PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND ADHESION OF MONODISPERSED POLYPYRROLE PARTICLES

Uniform colloidal polypyrrole particles ranging from 17 to 59 nm in di ameter were prepared by the oxidation of pyrrole with sodium persulfat e in the presence of the nonionic Rhodasurf TB970 polymeric stabilizer and 4-ethyl benzenesulfonic acid. The adhesion of these particles on glass beads was studied as a function of the pH using the packed colum n technique. Polypyrrole was found to deposit on glass only at pH valu es below its isoelectric point (i.e.p.), forming a monolayer. The enti re amount of the adhered polypyrrole could be rapidly removed by rinsi ng the column with 1 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3) NaOH solution.